Spain’s opposition accuses government of legalising migrants with criminal histories

Alberto Núñez Feijóo has accused the Spanish government of introducing an immigration measure that could allow undocumented migrants with criminal histories to gain legal residency, prompting an immediate backlash from ministers who said his claims were false. The dispute centres on a new decree designed to regularise certain foreign nationals already living in Spain without papers.

The leader of the opposition Partido Popular made the remarks during a parliamentary session in Congress, where immigration became one of the main points of confrontation between the government and the centre-right opposition. Feijóo said foreigners who had “abused women” or committed theft would be regularised under the new rules. His comments were widely reported by Spanish media on Wednesday.

Government representatives rejected that interpretation and said the decree maintains criminal record checks and security controls already required under immigration law. Ministers argued that no applicant who represents a threat to public order or public safety can be granted residency under the scheme.

What the decree is intended to do

The reform is aimed at undocumented migrants who are already residing in Spain rather than people newly arriving at the border. It creates or expands legal routes through which applicants may seek temporary or longer-term residency if they meet specific conditions set out in the legislation.

Spanish media reports said ministers expect around 500,000 people could potentially benefit over time, although the final number will depend on how many applications are made and how many are approved. The government has not said that all eligible individuals would automatically receive papers. Each case must be processed through the administrative system.

Applicants are expected to provide proof of identity, evidence of residence in Spain and documentation showing they satisfy the relevant criteria. Cases can then be assessed individually by the authorities.

Ministers say safeguards remain unchanged

Elma Saiz, the minister for inclusion, social security and migration, accused Feijóo of either misunderstanding the decree or presenting it inaccurately. She said criminal background checks remain part of the process and that Spain continues to apply exclusions linked to security concerns.

Officials said checks may involve consultation of national records and other databases available to the authorities. They insist the reform does not erase previous offences or grant residency without scrutiny. Instead, they describe it as a legal mechanism for dealing with people already present in the country whose status remains unresolved.

The government also criticised language that linked migration with crime, arguing that broad generalisations damage social cohesion and unfairly stigmatise foreign residents who live and work legally in Spain.

Economic case behind the policy

Ministers have defended the decree on economic grounds as well as humanitarian ones. They say Spain has a significant number of undocumented residents already participating in the labour market, often in insecure or undeclared jobs. Bringing those workers into the formal economy would allow stronger enforcement of labour standards and increase tax and social security contributions.

Several sectors of the Spanish economy have reported difficulties recruiting staff, particularly agriculture, hospitality, domestic care and construction. Business groups and some regional administrations have previously called for measures to address labour shortages, especially in seasonal work and ageing rural areas.

Supporters of regularisation also argue that legal residency helps reduce exploitation. Workers with status are generally better placed to sign formal contracts, report abuse and access rights available under Spanish law. Migrant advocacy organisations have long campaigned for broader pathways to residency for people who have established lives in the country.

Political pressure on both sides

The issue is politically sensitive because immigration has become more prominent in Spain’s national debate. The Partido Popular says it supports orderly and lawful migration but opposes what it considers blanket regularisations. Feijóo has argued that any pathway to residency should be tied to employment, integration and respect for the law.

His criticism has also drawn attention because the PP previously supported the parliamentary consideration of a citizen-led initiative calling for a wide regularisation process. Since then, the party’s tone has hardened as migration has become a sharper dividing line with the governing coalition.

For the Sánchez government, the decree forms part of a broader attempt to combine border management with labour market needs and social inclusion. Ministers argue Spain must respond pragmatically to demographic pressures, workforce demand and the reality of long-term undocumented residence.

Debate set to continue

With the decree now approved, attention is likely to turn to how it is implemented in practice and whether legal or political challenges follow. Opposition parties are expected to continue attacking the measure, while migrant groups will press for efficient processing and fair access.

The clash between Feijóo and the government has ensured immigration will remain at the centre of Spanish politics in the months ahead, with both sides seeking to shape public opinion on one of the country’s most contested issues.